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"We need to steer the course very carefully, taking into account the cost- effectiveness and the practicability of using simultaneous interpretation in courts. Under no circumstances should the fairness of a trial be compromised," he explained.

Noting that a civil case tried by a High Court Judge in Chinese had made history last December, the Chief Justice said, "We are encouraged by the positive feedback and reactions. We will be actively identifying suitable cases to be heard in Chinese where we believe that this will facilitate the just and expeditious disposal of those cases."

On the localisation of the Bench, Sir Ti Liang is confident that by July 1997, the Judiciary will be able to achieve a 50 per cent localisation across the board. Nevertheless, he stressed that in pursuing localisation, "we are very conscious of the need to maintain the high standards of the Judiciary, and appointments to the Bench will continue to be based on merits."

"The Judiciary will continue to make every effort to ensure that the courts are well maintained and are operated in an efficient manner. The Judiciary will preserve its fine tradition and seek further improvements within its existing framework to ensure that justice is always administered in a fair and speedy manner," the Chief Justice concluded.

End

Legal Department working on continuity of legal system: AG

The Attorney General, Mr Jeremy Mathews, speaking at the Opening of the Legal Year this (Monday) evening, gave an account of the work done by the Legal Department to ensure continuity of the legal system with the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong.

He pointed out that this work fell under four categories: production of bilingual laws, international rights and obligations, localisation of laws, and adaptation of laws.

On bilingual laws, he noted that by the end of 1995, a total of 132 bilingual principal ordinances as well as 50 bilingual amending ordinances had been enacted, and hundreds of pieces of bilingual subsidiary legislation had been made.